In blow to Canada premier, legislator joins Liberal Party

Reuters/OttawaCanadian legislator Eve Adams left the governing Conservatives to join the opposition Liberal Party yesterday in a fresh blow to Prime Minister Stephen Harper ahead of an election scheduled for this October. Sitting alongside Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, Adams told reporters: “The party no longer shares my values”. She also blasted what she called Harper’s mean-spirited leadership. The move follows foreign minister John Baird’s surprise resignation last week, which came amid talk of a split with Harper’s office over Russia policy and other issues. Harper has been in power since early 2006 and most polls show the Conservatives neck-and-neck with the Liberals. If an election were held now, the most likely result would be that Harper would lose his majority in the House of Commons. Adams said her defection also reflected what she said was unhappiness among legislators over Harper’s tight control over government and party. “I want to work with someone who inspires, not with fear-mongerers and bullies,” she said. At least 25 Conservative members of Parliament, more than 15% of the total, have announced they will not run again. The departure of Adams marks the first time a Conservative legislator has left the party to cross directly to the Liberals since Harper was elected. Adams represents Mississauga-Brampton South, which is just outside of Toronto, a region where the Liberals must win seats to stand a chance of taking power. “We can do better for Canadians. I’m pleased that Eve is joining us today to help us do just that,” Trudeau said. The choice might be controversial with Liberal members, since Adams had fallen out with the right-leaning Conservatives and was unlikely to be allowed to run for the party in October. She is also the fiancée of Dimitri Soudas, a financial consultant who in the past worked as both Harper’s chief spokesman and the Conservative Party’s executive director before he too split unhappily with the party. “Oh my goodness I am choked up with the BS and opportunism from Eve Adams. Glad the Liberals have taken her in,” tweeted  Conservative Senator Nicole Eaton. Officials at Harper’s office and at the Conservative Party were not immediately available for comment. Harper appointed Rob Nicholson to replace Baird yesterday. He also announced that employment minister Jason Kenney, a Conservative Party heavyweight, would take over at the Defence Department.   The appointment of Nicholson, underscores Harper’s intention to continue with his muscular foreign policy, observers said. Mystery surrounds Baird’s sudden decision to step down February 3. Nicholson’s appointment came just hours before German chancellor Angela Merkel is to meet with Harper, with Ukraine - and the question of sending weapons to the Kiev government - likely to dominate the talks. Canada has a large Ukraine population, whose community leaders have been pressing Ottawa to send defensive weapons to the Ukraine government to combat the rising violence by separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine. Jason Kenney, the minister for multiculturalism, will replace Nicholson as defence minister while keeping his multiculturalism post. “The changes to the ministry announced today will help ensure that key portfolios continue to have the strong leadership required to advance Canadian priorities,” Harper said in a statement. As defence minister, Nicholson had overseen Canada’s combat mission in Iraq to fight the Islamic State as well as ongoing military support to Ukraine in its stand-off with Russia.